Arkansas could seal up a first-round bye in SEC Tourney with win over Texas A&M

The Arkansas baseball team sealed up no worse than a fifth-place finish in the SEC regular-season standings with Thursday night’s Game 1 win over Texas A&M. The Razorbacks have bigger dreams, though, and another victory Thursday will go a long way in making them realities.

Arkansas and the Aggies play from College Station on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. A Diamond Hogs win coupled with a Misssippi State loss against LSU and Arkansas will finish in the top four in the league standings. A top-four finish and the Razorbacks earn a first-round bye for next week’s SEC Tournament.

With a first-round bye likely comes hosting duties for the NCAA Tournament regionals the week after.

Arkansas baseball vs. Texas A&M live blog, score updates

Game 1 Recap

The Arkansas baseball team wants to host an NCAA Regional at Baum Stadium. Thursday night’s result put them one game closer to achieving that goal.

Chad Spanberger’s go-ahead, two-out, two-run home run in the 10th inning proved to be the winner as the Razorbacks beat Texas A&M, 6-4, in extra innings.

The win ensures, at worst, Arkansas will finish fifth in the SEC standings. The Diamond Hogs’ win combined with Mississippi State’s loss to LSU moved Arkansas into fourth in the SEC standings. Fourth-place or better by late Saturday and the Razorbacks will earn a first-round bye in the SEC Tournament next week. Arkansas can earn that by winning one more game on the weekend than the Bulldogs.

Thursday was a good start.

Jake Arledge singled a batter before Spanberger to set the stage. Spanberger went opposite field – to left – for his 12th of the season to give the Razorbacks the two-run lead.

Texas A&M had just tied it the inning before as the Razorbacks led 4-3 entering the ninth. But Jake Reindl couldn’t finish an excellent start by his starter, Trevor Stephan. Reindl walked the first Texas A&M batter of the ninth and after a failed sacrifice bunt, Cole Bedford doubled to give the Aggies runners at second and third with one out. Jorge Gutierrez’s sacrifice fly tied the game at four runs apiece before Reindl retired Austin Homan with a strikeout swinging to send the game to extra innings.

Arkansas baseball vs. Texas A&M TV channel, stream online

Game 1 on Thursday and Game 2 on Friday will be shown on the SEC Network+. Game 3 on Saturday can be found on SEC Network. Fans can watch via WatchESPN or the WatchESPN app.

Arkansas baseball vs. Texas A&M game times

Friday Game 2 — 6:30 p.m.

Saturday Game 3 — 1 p.m.

Who is calling the Arkansas vs. Texas A&M games?

Game 3 on television will have Clay Matvick handling the play by play and Chris Burke as the color commentator. Phil Elson has the call for the Arkansas on the radio.